Tobin Heath Announces Retirement from Soccer
Tobin Heath, a formidable talent in women’s soccer and a prominent figure in the U.S. Women’s National Team (USWNT), has made the difficult decision to retire from the sport. This announcement comes nearly three years after she last played in a competitive match, a hiatus largely influenced by ongoing struggles with a severe injury to her left knee.
Illustrious Career with the USWNT
At 37 years old, Heath leaves behind an illustrious 13-year legacy with the USWNT, during which she clinched two World Cup titles and earned two Olympic gold medals, establishing herself as one of the most technically skilled players of her era. She concluded her international career having made 181 appearances, with her last match taking place in 2021.
Club Achievements
In her club career, Heath demonstrated her competitiveness, winning two NWSL Championships with the Portland Thorns. She also secured two NWSL Shields, one with the Thorns and another with the Seattle Reign. Her last game as a professional athlete was on August 14, 2022, where the Reign triumphed over Gotham FC with a score of 4-1.
Reflections on Retirement
Reflecting on her journey, Heath candidly shared her struggles with acceptance regarding her retirement during an emotional episode of The RE-CAP Show, a podcast she co-hosts with former teammate Christen Press.
“Over New Year’s, I actually came to the full acceptance that I wasn’t going to be playing, which was like a two-year, some might say three-year process of acceptance,”
she recounted. Heath expressed the extreme lengths she went to in attempting to return to the field, including multiple surgeries and significant financial investment in her recovery.
A Legacy Beyond Accolades
Notably, she received the U.S. Soccer Female Athlete of the Year award in 2016, cementing her status as one of the sport’s icons. Despite her accolades, Heath emphasized her initial motivation for playing:
“I never played to be famous or for people to care about me. I just played because I loved it.”
In addition to her achievements in the U.S., Heath also spent time in Europe competing with prestigious clubs like Manchester United, Arsenal, and Paris Saint-Germain.
